New Mentorship Programs for the Baltimore Chapter!

The chapter announces two new kinds of mentorship programs. First, we are forming a new BAGO Scholarship Program for Beginning Organists, details forthcoming soon. The objective of this exciting program is to support the training of organists new to the instrument. Additionally, we are hereby introducing a separate professional mentorship program, “S.O.S.,” for members in our community. The objective of the S.O.S. (“Solve the Organist’s Situation”) Program is to share helpful advice among members, in a spirit like the “Dear John” column that was formerly a part of our chapter newsletters a few years ago.

S.O.S. (“Solve the Organist’s Situation”) Program for Chapter Members

SITUATION: Do you have questions related to your profession? Or do you have questions related to the organ? Examples might include:

• Choir Issues (an odd section balance or limited budget)

• Repertoire Advice (suggestions needed for a specific liturgy, or for an instrument with limitations, or for a non-SATB choir)

• Organ Literature questions (e.g., “Did Reger compose anything easy?” or “Can you suggest some women composers of Baroque organ music?”)

• Advice on purchasing a new organ for your church or on fundraising for your instrument

• Musical Ideas for a special non-liturgical service (e.g., a prayer service for a war-torn region or a service for victims of gun violence)

• Wondering what organs to be sure to see when traveling to another country, etc.

You would rather not search your question online nor inquire on social media platforms, but you might instead (or additionally) prefer to reach out to the accrued wisdom of your Baltimore Chapter colleagues. If so, we have a solution.

SOLUTION: Members can email their question to current coordinator, Diane Luchese, along with their specified preference from these options:

• OPTION 1. Your question will be forwarded (without your name) to the BAGO list. Members reading your question who have something to share will email their responses to the coordinator. When the replies are gathered, the coordinator will send the compiled suggestions back to the person who requested some help. Additionally, if anyone else in the community sees the question when it is circulated and has a similar question and/or would like to know the solutions regarding the same issue, they too can write to the coordinator, requesting that they also get a copy of the responses.

• OPTION 2. If you have a question and complete anonymity is not critical and/or you might even want some follow-up dialog exchange with mentors on the issue, begin by sending your question to the coordinator. Your question will go out to the community at large (anonymously) in the newsletter. Any member who sees your question and would like to help will contact the coordinator, after which they will be given your contact info to exchange with you directly and independently.